Straight-edge.



W. PASCHAL L.

STRAIGHT EDGE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18. 1915.

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WILLIAM PASGHALL, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

STRAIGHT-EDGE monerz.

Application filed December 18, 1915.

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM PASCI-IALL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at One object of the invention is to provide,

upon this fin, projecting prongs, adapted to engage one or both of the plates. 1

. Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the plates will be held against separation in one direction, and whereby the binder strips will be prevented from separating in a rectangularly disposed direction, this result being brought about by inserting a channel member into the ends of the plates and by riveting down the ends of the channel member on the aforesaid strips. 1

A further specific improvement resides in ,the fact that between the constituent plates of the straight edge there is disposed, a zigzag truss member which may or may not be secured to the fins which project inwardly between the plates from the binding strips.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description pro ceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 shows the invention in top plan, a portion of one of the constituent plates of the straight edge being broken away; F ig.- 2 is an elevation of the straight edge forming the Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedOct. 17,1916.

Serial No. 67,574.

subject matter of this application; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1'; Fig. 4: is a fragmental longitudinal section of the complete straight edge; Fig. 5 isa cross section of the binding strip; Fig; 6' is a fragmental longitudinal section on the line 66 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a composite perspective view of one of the binding strips and the channel-shaped tie which'coaots therewith; Fig. 8 is an end elevation, diagrammatic in nature and illustrating the means whereby the channel-shaped tie member is interlocked with the binding strips to prevent a lateral separation thereof; Fig. 9 1s a cross section showing a sllght modification in' the binding strip delineated in Fig.

5; Figs-1O is an elevation of a modified form of straight edge, one of the constituent plates of the straight edge being removed,

' the modification consisting in arranging the zig-zag trussmember in a slightly dilferent manner from that shown in Fig. 1.

The straight edge forming the subject matter of this application embodies a pair of plates 1 of any desired length and ordinarily fashioned from wood. A pair of T- shaped binders are provided, each binder embodying a'stri-p 2 which engages the lon gitudinal edges of the plates 1. The strip 2 is provided intermediate its longitudinal edges and upon its inner face with a dovetalled recess 3 adapted to receive an enlarged, correspondmgly shapedbead l having a fin 5 which constitutes a part of each binding strip, the fins 5 entering between the plates 1. The fins 5 may be'equipped with anchoring openings 6 of any desired contour. Prongs 7 arestruck from the fins 5, the prongs preferably, but not necessarily, extending in opposite directions from each of the fins 5', so as to engage both of the plates 1. r

In the ends of the edge'strips 2 notches 8 i are formed, these notches definingtongues 11. The lnventlon comprlsesa channelshaped tie 9, so-called because it serves to.

prevent the plates 1 from separating in one direction, and serves also to prevent the edge strips 2 from separatingin' a rectangularly disposed direction. In the ends of the plates 1, grooves 14 are formed, the flanges of the tie 9 bemg recelved 1n these grooves. The crown of the tie 9 1s cut away as shown at 10 to define extensions 12 received in the notches 8 of theedge strips 2. After the eX- tensions 12 have been mounted in the notches 8 as above indicated, the extremities of the extensions are butt-ended and smoothed off as shown at 15.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the tie 9 exercises an important function, since it locks together the constituent plates 1 of the straight edge, and locks together also, the strips 2 which extend along the opposed longitudinal edges of the straight edge. Since the crown of the tie 9 is cut away as shown at 10, the end face of the tongue 11 is adapted to lie flush with the outer face of the crown of the tie 9. Consequently, the outer face of the strip 2 and the end face thereof are made efiicient for defining clearly and sharply, one corner of the straight edge.

Interposed between the plates 1 and extended longitudinally of the straight edge is a zig-zag truss 16 formed by folding a strip of metal upon itself, as shown at 17 This folding operation, however, may be dispensed with and the truss may be otherwise constructed, provided that its zig-Zag form is retained. In one form of the invention, as shown in Fig. 1, the angles of the zig-zag truss 16 overlap the inner edges of the fins 5. The parts above described may be secured together in any desired manner. One eflicient means for producing this result is by fashioned interfitting projections 18 on the fins 5 and on the angles of the truss 16. In this connection it is to be understood that Fig. 6 is to a large extent diagrammatic in nature, the truss 16 and the edge binders being fashioned from relatively thin metal and that the structure, when viewed in cross section, will not present the bulky appearance indicated in Fig. 6.

If desired, the truss need not be secured to the fins 5, such a construction being shown in Fig. 10, wherein the truss is indicated by the reference character 19. When it is desired to manufacture the straight edge at a minimum expense, the truss may be omitted. Further, when it is desired to cheapen the cost of construction, the edge strip 20 may be formed integrally with the fin 21, as shown in Fig. 8.

The plates 1 are connected by cement, indicated at 22, this cement entering the anchoring openings 6 in the fins 5. Further, it is obvious that the constituent members of the truss 16 or 19 are also embedded in the cement 22 an unusually strong structure thus being afforded. It is to be observed that the anchoring openings 6 lie entirely within the flanges 5. There are, therefore, no gaps along the inner edge of the fin 5 and the anchorage is made more complete and secure. The structure shown in this application has been applied to the straight edge, but it may be used for binding and reinforcing spirit levels and other tools of a like sort.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A straight edge comprising a pair of plates having grooves at their ends; a binder embodying a strip engaging the longitudinal edges of the plates and an angularly disposed fin entering between the plates, the strip having notches in its ends; and a channel-shaped tie seated in the grooves and in the notches.

2. A straight edge comprising a pair of plates having grooves in their ends; a binder embodying a strip engaging the longitudinal edges of the plates and an angular disposed fin entering between the plates, the strip having notches in its ends and defining a tongue; and a channel-shaped tie seated in the grooves and in the notches, the crown of the tie being cut away to receive the tongue, whereby the end face of the strip and the outer side face thereof may define one of the corners of the straight edge.

3. A straight edge comprising a pair of plates; a binder embodying a strip engaging the longitudinal edges of the plates and an angularly disposed fin entering between the plates; and a Zig-Zag truss member disposed between the plates and extended longitudinally of the plates, the angles of the truss member coacting with the fins.

4. A straight edge embodying a pair of plates; a binder including a strip engaging the longitudinal edges of the plates and an angularly disposed fin entering between the plates, the fin being provided with prongs engaging one of the plates.

5. A straight edge embodying a pair of plates; a binder including a strip engaging the longitudinal edges of the plates and an angularly disposed fin entering between the plates, the fin being provided with oppositely projecting prongs engaging the respective plates.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

W'ILLIAM PASCHALL.

Witnesses:

Mrs. RoBT. J. KAPAI-IER, JOHN W.

comes at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

